Commissioners sign documents for juvenile diversion program to cover six counties

With approval from the Nebraska Crime Commission, the Chase County Commissioners signed the necessary paper work for a six-county juvenile diversion program at the Oct. 23 commissioners’ meeting.
    Karen Baker with the county attorney’s office said each county in the plan needs the signatures of its county commissioners as well, but all the county attorneys are satisfied with the agreement.
    “It took a lot of doing to get everyone on board,” said commissioner Dennis Kunnemann to Baker.
    The six counties that signed memorandums of understanding are Chase, Dundy, Hitchcock, Hayes, Furnas and Red Willow.
    Baker said it was tough to get everyone on board.
    “There was some bad blood,” she said.
    Area schools address any juvenile issues with their in-house counselor, then pass remaining problems on to each county’s attorney, who decides what the next step will be.
    The diversion program’s counselor will be located in Benkelman.
    Baker said everyone is ready to start work on the 2019-2020 budget and grant applications.

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